Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

October 28, 2009, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Janicki honored for WWII service with Freedom Flight

Neillsville area resident Ted Janicki, sporting his Freedom Honor Flight T-shirt and cap, displays the Purple Heart medal he was awarded for his military service during World War II.  Janicki participated in The Freedom Honor Flight to Washington, D. C. Oct. 10 with other WWII veterans to view the World War II Memorial and other memorials.  (Photo by Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)

By Peter Spicer

World War II veteran Ted Janicki of Neillsville (Town of Dewhurst) was recently honored for his service by taking the Freedom Honor Flight to Washington, D. C., with other WWII veterans.

Janicki, 91, was one of 100 WWII veterans to take the one-day flight to view the WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial and other memorials in Washington D. C., Oct. 10.

The Freedom Honor Flight provides transportation for the veterans, and volunteers to assist them, to the WWII Memorial and other war memorials in Washington D. C.

Private and commercial donors and regional veteran’s organizations support The Freedom Honor Flights.

With so much to see in Washington, D. C., it was difficult to make just a one-day trip there, said Janicki, who took many photos on the trip.

The WWII Memorial included a pillar that represented each state, including the Wisconsin Pillar Janicki photographed.  The memorial also included four posts, and each represented a different war campaign, Janicki said.

One of the veterans who planned on making the flight passed away before the date of the flight but was honored with a ceremony during the trip, said Janicki, who explained many veterans who were a part of the trip used wheelchairs.

Janicki was a machine gunner in the U. S. Army; he served during the war from 1942-1945 and participated in the Normandy Beach invasion.

While serving during the war, Janicki was shot in the leg with shrapnel, which caused nerve damage.  He needed to wear a brace for several years after the injury.

Janicki received the Purple Heart Award and the WWII Victory Medal for his service.

After returning home from WWII, Janicki tried his hand at farming but eventually began working at Fort McCoy, where he worked for 27 years until age 65.  Janicki started as a custodian and eventually worked with the ammunition supply.

In 1947, Janicki purchased the property where he still resides and raised eight children, including five boys and three girls, with his wife Dorothy.

Janicki became acquainted with the other veterans on The Freedom Honor Flight, many of whom reside in neighboring states, and appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the trip.

"They treated us real nice," concluded Janicki.